Optical device and optical unit including optical device

Abstract

An optical device includes a protective cover and a driver. An outer surface of the protective cover includes a first region having higher hydrophobicity than a second region. The first region is separated from the second region by a first boundary line extending from a starting point deviating from a center point of the protective cover in the direction toward an outer edge portion of the protective cover and a second boundary line extending from the starting point in the direction toward the outer edge portion of the protective cover, and which is located on a side where the center point is not included. Among angles defined by the first and second boundary lines, an angle on the side where the center point is not included is equal to or less than about 180°.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An optical device comprising:
 a light-transmitting body disposed in a direction of a visual field of an optical sensor; and 
 a driver to rotationally drive the light-transmitting body along an axis in the visual field of the optical sensor; wherein 
 a first region and a second region having higher hydrophobicity than the first region are provided on an outer surface of the light-transmitting body; 
 the second region is separated from the first region by a first boundary line extending from a first starting point deviating from a rotation center of the light-transmitting body in a direction toward an outer edge portion of the light-transmitting body and a second boundary line extending from the first starting point in a direction toward the outer edge portion of the light-transmitting body, and is located on a side where the rotation center is not included; and 
 among angles defined by the first boundary line and the second boundary line, an angle on the side where the rotation center is not included is equal to or less than about 180°. 
 
     
     
       2. The optical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first boundary line and the second boundary line each include a curved portion. 
     
     
       3. The optical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first boundary line and the second boundary line are each a straight line. 
     
     
       4. The optical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the angle on the side where the rotation center is not included of the angles defined by the first boundary line and the second boundary line at the first starting point is an acute angle. 
     
     
       5. The optical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the angle on the side where the rotation center is not included of the angles defined by the first boundary line and the second boundary line at the first starting point is an obtuse angle or two right angles. 
     
     
       6. The optical device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the light-transmitting body includes an inner circumferential portion that corresponds to the visual field of the optical sensor and an outer circumferential portion that is provided in an outer side portion of the inner circumferential portion; and 
 the second region is provided in at least a portion of the inner circumferential portion. 
 
     
     
       7. An optical unit comprising:
 an optical sensor; and 
 the optical device according to  claim 1 . 
 
     
     
       8. The optical unit according to  claim 7 , wherein the first boundary line and the second boundary line each include a curved portion. 
     
     
       9. The optical unit according to  claim 7 , wherein the first boundary line and the second boundary line are each a straight line. 
     
     
       10. The optical unit according to  claim 7 , wherein the angle on the side where the rotation center is not included of the angles defined by the first boundary line and the second boundary line at the first starting point is an acute angle. 
     
     
       11. The optical unit according to  claim 7 , wherein the angle on the side where the rotation center is not included of the angles defined by the first boundary line and the second boundary line at the first starting point is an obtuse angle or two right angles. 
     
     
       12. An optical device comprising:
 a light-transmitting body disposed in a direction of a visual field of an optical sensor; and 
 a driver to rotationally drive the light-transmitting body along an axis in the visual field of the optical sensor; wherein 
 a first region, a second region having higher hydrophobicity than the first region, and a third region having lower hydrophobicity than the second region are provided on an outer surface of the light-transmitting body; 
 the second region is separated from the first region by a first boundary line extending from a first starting point deviating from a rotation center of the light-transmitting body in a direction toward an outer edge portion of the light-transmitting body and a second boundary line extending from the first starting point in a direction toward the outer edge portion of the light-transmitting body, and is located on a side where the rotation center is not included; and 
 the third region is separated from the second region by a third boundary line extending from a second starting point provided in the second region in a direction toward an outer edge portion of the light-transmitting body and a fourth boundary line extending from the second starting point in a direction toward the outer edge portion of the light-transmitting body, and is located on a side where the rotation center is not included. 
 
     
     
       13. The optical device according to  claim 12 , wherein the first boundary line and the second boundary line are parallel or substantially parallel to the third boundary line and the fourth boundary line. 
     
     
       14. The optical device according to  claim 12 , wherein the second starting point coincides with the first starting point. 
     
     
       15. The optical device according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the third boundary line is located on a line obtained by extending the first boundary line; and 
 the fourth boundary line is located on a line obtained by extending the second boundary line. 
 
     
     
       16. The optical device according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the light-transmitting body includes an inner circumferential portion that corresponds to the visual field of the optical sensor and an outer circumferential portion that is provided in an outer side portion of the inner circumferential portion; and 
 the second region is provided in at least a portion of the inner circumferential portion. 
 
     
     
       17. An optical unit comprising:
 an optical sensor; and 
 the optical device according to  claim 6 . 
 
     
     
       18. The optical unit according to  claim 17 , wherein the first boundary line and the second boundary line are parallel or substantially parallel to the third boundary line and the fourth boundary line. 
     
     
       19. The optical unit according to  claim 17 , wherein the second starting point coincides with the first starting point. 
     
     
       20. The optical unit according to  claim 17 , wherein
 the third boundary line is located on a line obtained by extending the first boundary line; and 
 the fourth boundary line is located on a line obtained by extending the second boundary line.